Waltham closes deal on Fernald purchase

The city on Tuesday took ownership of nearly 200 acres of land that housed the former Fernald Developmental Center.

By Ryan Grannan-Dollrgrannan@wickedlocal.com

The city on Tuesday took ownership of nearly 200 acres of land that housed the former Fernald Developmental Center.

Mayor Jeannettte McCarthy and other city officials signed the real estate closing documents on Tuesday, taking ownership from the state, according to McCarthy. The closing was held at the state Department of Capital and Asset Management and Maintenance office in Boston.

The state has 90 days to remove its property from the buildings and turn over the keys to the city, McCarthy said. She said Waltham Police have been instructed to increase patrols around the site to make sure it is secure.

City officials rejoiced after the signing.

“I’m thrilled. This has been a long battle for control of the land,” City Councilor and state Rep. Thomas Stanley said. “I have stayed awake countless nights worrying about the fate of the Fernald land. It’s been a big part of my professional life.”

Stanley, who actually voted against using CPA funds to purchase the site, citing concerns for the funding mechanism, played a large role in the final deal. He worked with state officials to formulate what eventually became the deal.

The council in December approved $3.7 million in funding for the purchase. Approximately $2.7 million in Community Preservation Act (CPA) money was used to purchase 138.977 acres of the site. Use of the CPA money means the city can only use that portion for open space, recreation or historic preservation.

About $800,000 was used to purchase 40 acres. That portion will remain unrestricted for future uses. The $3.7 million total includes other associated costs.

The state had anticipated that the home for people with developmental disabilities would be shuttered by 2007, but residents fought a long legal battle that allowed them to stay for years. The last resident left the site in November.

As for the long-term future of the site, McCarthy said she plans to hire a consultant to map and assess the condition of the wetlands in the northwest portion of the site. Stanley called for an open, public process to decide the site’s future.

“It’s been my position from the very beginning that we should have a public process. Not any one politician should decide what reuse of the property takes place. The citizens of Waltham should partake in this process thoroughly,” Stanley said. “There are many different needs that Waltham has.”

City Councilor Bill Fowler said he is not sure what the site should be used for, but opposed putting a new high school on the land. He said most city children would have to be bused to the site’s remote location.

“I don’t think we should rush into it because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Fowler said.